Rebrand Alexa to a non-human name to end the harm it is causing

Rebrand Alexa to a non-human name to end the harm it is causing

Started
April 26, 2019
Petition to
Signatures: 6,656Next Goal: 7,500
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Why this petition matters

Started by Lauren J

By signing, I agree that Amazon should change their wake word Alexa to a non human name. Amazon should rebrand all products associated with the name Alexa to an option that’s not a human name.

A name cannot function as the wake word to millions of tech devices and still remain usable as a name for people.

The impact for people named Alexa (and similar names):

- Loss of the use of their name when near devices
- Routine harassment and ridicule (workplace, school, peer to peer, adult to child, sexual, etc.)
- Unwanted name changes and identity erasure
- Suicidal ideation

Amazon’s choice to use the real name “Alexa” as the wake word and persona of their virtual assistant is causing significant harm to the people who have that name (and names that are similar to it). When a real name is used to activate ubiquitous tech products, it means that anyone speaking to or about a person with that name is likely to trigger one, resulting in chaos and disruption. The owners of these devices rarely react to this situation by turning them off or changing their settings; instead, they often assign substitute names to the humans, or simply try to avoid addressing them at all. Many device owners have come to view people named Alexa (and similar) as nuisances for this reason, even when their presence is virtual, like in phone calls or zoom meetings, or if they’re on TV, radio, and other types of media.

Humans named Alexa (and similar) are also finding that Amazon’s choice of “Alexa” is changing the way that others interact with them; it's hard for people to get past their association with saying the name before AI commands. Almost without thinking, many people are now adopting the same manner with those named Alexa (and similar) that they use with the AI, barking orders and requests after their name. The people doing this aren’t necessarily setting out to demean, but the very nature of Amazon’s product - with “Alexa” as an ever present persona that users command verbally after calling it by name - contributes to this outcome. The result is that children and adults named Alexa (and similar names) are routinely being ridiculed, bullied, and harassed while at work, school, and social events, simply for having (and trying to use) their own birth name.

With more than 1/2 of a billion Amazon devices out there now using the “Alexa” wake word, these dehumanizing outcomes are the daily reality for many people around the world who have this name (or one close to it). All people need, and are entitled to, the use of their own name; no one should be robbed of this basic human right for any reason, but especially not for the sake of a product that would work just as well summoned by a made-up name or neutral word. Corporate Social Responsibility compels any company whose product is causing harm of this magnitude to take the steps necessary to fix it.

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I am Alexa Alliance

Website: https://www.iamalexa.org/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AlexaAlliance
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IAmAlexaAlliance
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/i_am_alexa_alliance/
Podcast: https://www.iamalexa.org/wake-up-podcast

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Signatures: 6,656Next Goal: 7,500
Support now
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